Israeli soldiers traded for Palestinian prisoners in Gaza


Listen To Story Above

Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers on Saturday as part of the ongoing Gaza cease-fire agreement, marking the second hostage exchange under the deal.

The released soldiers – Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naama Levy, 20; and Liri Albag, 19 – were transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross, who facilitated the exchange with Hamas.

This release follows the first exchange that took place six days earlier when three hostages were freed after the initial cease-fire implementation, which halted the 15-month conflict.

The exchange agreement stipulates that Israel will release 200 Palestinian prisoners, including some serving life sentences, in return for the soldiers’ freedom.

Israel has raised concerns about Hamas breaching the agreement’s protocols, which require the release of all female civilians before female IDF soldiers, followed by elderly and ill hostages.

Hamas announced its intention to release the four female soldiers despite two civilian women – Arbel Yehud, 29, and Shiri Silberman Bibas, 33 – remaining in captivity. Israel had specifically requested Yehud’s release this weekend, in accordance with the deal’s terms. Reports suggest Yehud is being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad rather than Hamas, complicating her release situation.

The four freed soldiers were surveillance personnel captured from the Nahal Oz military base during Hamas’ October 7 attack.

The initial phase of the truce outlines weekly exchanges over five weeks, with Israel set to receive 33 hostages in exchange for releasing over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli officials believe at least one-third of the approximately 90 remaining hostages in Gaza are deceased.

As part of the agreement, Israel has established a buffer zone in Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return home while facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid.

On the truce’s sixteenth day, both parties began discussing the next phase, which broadly aims to secure the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent Gaza cease-fire.

However, significant challenges threaten the deal’s stability. Israel maintains its position of not completely withdrawing from Gaza until Hamas surrenders all military and political control, while Hamas refuses to release remaining hostages until Israeli forces leave the territory.

The final phase would include the return of deceased hostages in exchange for a three to five-year Gaza reconstruction plan under international oversight.

This temporary pause stems from Hamas’ October 7 attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostage captures. According to Hamas-run health officials, Israel’s military response has resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian casualties, though this figure doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.